Monday, June 29, 2026
Spanish Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau and Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a mural on the sidewalk-facing walls of Grace Church, 1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW, on June 25. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the new mural, by Spanish artist Paco Roca, celebrates the shared history of Spain and the United States and highlights Spain’s contribution to the American Revolutionary War.
For America’s 250th, the Embassy of Spain issued the following proclamation.
The 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States marks a defining moment in world history, celebrating the birth of a nation founded on liberty, democracy, and the pursuit of self-government. From the very beginning, Spain played a decisive role in this process, providing political support, financial aid, military assistance, and strategic alliances that helped make American independence possible.
Two hundred and fifty years later, this shared history deserves a meaningful celebration. To honor this milestone, a year of cultural, academic, and public diplomacy activities brings to the United States a transatlantic perspective on the values that unite the United States and Spain, highlighting a friendship forged in the struggle for freedom and sustained by common democratic ideals.
The mural offers a concise and inclusive perspective on the origins of the United States, linking the drafting of the Declaration of Independence—featuring figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin—with the broader international context of the American Revolutionary War. At its center, Bernardo de Gálvez embodies Spain’s contribution, leading a diverse coalition whose success in the Siege of Pensacola favored the ultimate success of the Continental Army. The composition concludes in the present day, where his legacy in Washington, D.C. connects this shared history to the diversity of contemporary American society.
This mural is a gift from Spain to Washington, D.C., and the United States on the occasion of its 250th anniversary, and it is intended to remain on public display well beyond 2026. Designed by Paco Roca and executed by the local company Mural Spot Studio, it reflects a shared history rooted in cooperation, diversity, and common democratic values.
This project is a partnership between the Executive Office of the Mayor, the Department of Public Works MuralsDC program, the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C., and community partners Georgetown Heritage and Grace Episcopal Church, and has been made possible through the generous support of Repsol.
Mural in Georgetown by Paco Roca.
Spanish Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau. Photo by Bill Starrels.